Cotton picker



Aprnzz; i930.

E. A. JOHNSTON ET AL COTTON PICKER Filed Nov.. 15, 1926 Q5@ 0 @w00 @0 0m E., A. JOHNSTON ET AL COTTON PICKER April 22, 1930.

Filed Nov. 15, 1926 2- Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 22, 1930.

l EDWARD a JoIINsToN, DAvInB. BAKER, AND CLARENCE n. `IIAeEN, or CIIICAeo,-

v picker stems are carried in separate vertical UNITED STATES y'L1-sains PATENT. 'CFI-*ICE* v ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS T0 INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINoIs, A conronArIoN or NEW JERSEY Applicationmeamvembef15,1926, serial No. 148,555.

This invention relates to cotton harvesting machines and more particularly to an improved picker bar assembly which may be manufactured `as a unit for use in that type `of vehicle mounted .cotton harvester wherein rotatlng picker stems are projected into the cotton plants as the ,vehicle progresses 'over a row of plants.V `In such a machine, the

series of picker bars which house mechanism `for rotating the stems and are orbitally moved so as to cause the stems to project into the plants at an effective angle of approach,

tp remain within the plants long enough toz gather all of the ripe cotton without injuring the unopened bolls, and to be withdrawn from the plants at such an angle that the cotton may be efficiently stripped from the stems'.

It is an object of the invention to provide a successful picker bar which will be capable of uniformly accurate control of the movements'of the picker stems as they are projected into and withdrawn from the plants.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a picker bar assembly of rugged con-- struction capable of long continued and successful operation.

Y allows rlease of driving connections in case .abnormal reslstance 1s encountered.

A further object of the invention is to pro-l vide an' Improved picker stem driving mechanism which permits adequate variation in the speed of rotation of the picker stems and The construction by which the above objects are attained will be understood bylreference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application, it being under- Y opposite from the side from which the picker.

stood, however, that the description of the specltic mechanism, though it constitutesfa suitable Tand preferredl means for carrying out the invention, is for the purpose of exemplication lonly and the invention is noti' limited thereto, but its scope is pointed out in the following claims.

Referring now to the drawings,- l j Figure 1 is an'elevation of the 'picker bar assembly taken from the side of the casing stems extend g a' Figure 2 isv avverticaljsection-through the gear of the picker stem assembly, showing the parts within the gear casing in elevat-ion;4

Figure 3 is manner in which the picker stems extendfrom the gear casmg;

.Figure 4 is a horizontall sectional. view 'taken upon the line 4-4 of Figure 3 showing the picker stem in plan;

Figure 5 is atop plan view of the gea-r cas' ing showing the relation of the inl'tegral cam arm thereto;

v'Figure 6is ya a side elevation showing the i horizontal sectional view.

taken through the gear casin on the line 6--6 of Figure 2 and showing lthe ridge journal in plan; A

" F igure'( is anelevation of a part of the The embodiment 'of the invention illus-g trated in the accompanying drawings is for use in connection with a cotton picker of the' type shown in the patent to White No. 1,004,-

lustrated m Figures 33 and 34 of Athe drawings of that patent. In this type of machine, a series of ,picker bar assemblies are caused to move in an orbital path so as to bring the 8 35-, October 3, 1911, and is an improvement upon the icker bar assemblies which are 11- rotating picker stems into and out of the cotl ton plants. As the ickerbar' assemblies are moved through suc a path they are controlled by devices'which cause the projecting picker stems to enter the plants at the appropriate angle and to leave the plants at a diferent angle so as to effectively cooperate with a stripping or doing mechanism for `removing the cottonrwhich has been wound upon the vpickerstems.

" In Figure 1 of the drawings there is shown @gaat 1 Preferablymadebf a single :ooi i casting having an extension in the form of a cam arm 2, the latter controlling the various angles at which the picker stems project at different parts of the path of movement of the picker bar assembly. 1t is important that the cam varm 2 be rigid and immovable with relation to the gear casing 1, and it is also necessary that the picker bars of such machines beso constructed that theymay be manufactured with uniform positioning of the cam arms 2 with relation to the gear casings. in the illustrative structure these results are obtained by making the cam arm 2 integral with the gear easing.

.The gear casing 1 is shown of tubular form so aste rigidly vsupport a plurality of super-v posed picker stems 3 and to adequately protect and house the gearing Vfor rotating those picker stems. As is well illustrated in Figure 4.0i the drawings, the gear casing is formed at intervals with projections 4 for rotatively housing the picker stems. These housings are barrel shaped with their longitudinal axes extending tangentially with relation to the driving shaft 5. The latter extends longitudinally through thegearcasing, as clearly shown in Figure 2, and is rotatively journaled in the casing at its ends.

For supplying continuous rotary motion v to the spindles 3, the driving shaft 5 is preferably formed at intervals with helical pinions 6, which, in thiscase, may be also termed driving gears. The arrangement by which each driving gear 6 rotates a spindle 3 is well illustrated inl Figure 4 ofthe drawings. Each Y pinion 6 meshes with a'driven gear or pin- 1on 7 formed with radial slots 8 extending from its bore so as to slidably receive the ends of a key 9 fixedly mounted in the picker stem. The key '9 is preferably closely fitted in the radial slots 8 so as to maintain 'the driven gear? in proper operating position when the parts are assembled, as illustrated ,in Figure 4 of the drawings..,

One 'erid of 'each picker stem is ,rotatively journaledl-within a bushing 10 which is closelyfitted into an opening 1n' the casing 1,-as

is clearly shown in` Figure 4. This bushing is preferably formed with a lubricating duct 11 communicating withC a passageway 12y formed in the gear casing adjacent the opening for each of the bushings. The bushing 10 rpurpose ofholding the picker stem in working position'withn the casing,.and it'jsfalso formed with, I 175,the purpose of whlch is to prevent the excessive gathering of lubricant around the picker stem. Thesetlanges operate by centrifugal action to throw lubricant from the rotating picker stem.

The above described sleeve 14 also acts as a thrust ring inasmuch as it rotatively bears against the end of a bore within the removable bushing 16. The bushing 16 is preferably screw threaded within the casing 1, as shown in Figure 4, and is formed at its inner end with a plurality of lubricant conducting passages 17, as are clearly shown in Figures 4, 9 and l0 of the drawings. The inner end of the removable bushing 16 is arranged so as to be closely adjacent to the driven gear 7 for the purpose of appropriately confining said gear to its operative position. For the purpose of permitting the removal of the picker stems, the removable bushings 16 are formed with polygonal wrench receiving surfaces, as indicated at 18, (Figure 9).'

The picker stems shown in Figure 4 of the drawings are formed with teeth 19. There are preferably two rows ofsuch teeth upon each picker stem. Beneath the teeth of each row, the metal of the picker stem is preferably cut away, the substantially round stem thereby having the iattened portions 20. The particular structure of teeth shown enables the cottonto be adequately and effectively cleared from the picker stems by a doffing mechanism. The picker stems herein i1-l lustrated are adequately strengthened by the limiting of the tapered portion 2l to but a small part of the length of the picker stem near its tip, it having been found in practice that picker stems having a longer taper would be frequently broken by contact with the stalks and branches of the cotton plants.

The driving shaft 5 is centered and supported within the casing 1 by means of bridge Journals or arbor bolts 22, which are well shown in Figures 2, 6 and 7. These arbor bolts extend transversely through the casing and are tightened in position by nuts 23. The head of the arbor bolt is preferably circular yin form and is provided with diametrically opposite extensions. 24 which are seated lon the casing between the lugs 25 in order' that the'arbor. bolt may be accurately seated and .prevented from turning when it is anchored 1n position. As is well indicated in Figure 6 of the drawings, the portion of the arbor bolt near the head is closely fitted tothe Wal-ls 26 of the gear casing.. This arrangement proof each arbor bolt. y l

The lower endof the gear casin 1 is closed `vides a firm support-for thefdriving shaft 5 which is journaled within the central portion to the casing b means .of a key 28. The bush- I ing-27 is also ormed with a central lower extension 29 which is rotatively mounted the support. 30, which?4 inthe complete cotton iso'- pickel', is substantially circular inoutline and .carries a circular series of such picker bar assemblies as are here ^shown.

The upper end of the driving shaft 5 is formed witha thrust flange-31, splines 3 2 anda central axial lubricant passage 33 comlmunicating with radial ducts 34, 35 and 36,

which permit the passage oflubricant to the various bearings andgears of the assembly. At the extreme top of the driving shaft is l preferably mounted a scraper 37 designed'to gather lubricant from wicks as the picker -bar assemblies are moved in their orbital paths.

The bearing for the upper endl of the driving shaft 5 within the casing- 1 is provided with a bushing 38 preferably screw threaded .into the casing and having its lower end in engagement with the thrust-flange 31. Thev upper endof this bushing is formed with spaced extensions 39 for facilitating the removal of the bushin'g'and its adjustment for -tightly mounting the driving shaft within thel gear casing. f

` Owing to the strenuous service which cotton pickers of the present type are called upon to perform, it often happens that picker stems become bent, broken, or so engaged with the parts of the cottonk plants that abnormal resistance to the rotation of the picker 41 being preferably fixedagainst sliding.y

movementl on the driving shaft,-and theupper clutch member 42 being pressed downwardly against the sprocket wheel by meansof an expansion spring 43, This spring preferably abuts against a 4flanged collar 44, which is held against' upward movement. The clutch members 41 and 42 are preferably keyed tothe Vshaft 5 by means of the splines 32 and cooperating formations on theclutch membersf" f As indicated'in Figure 5 of the drawings, the camarm 2 is connected with the body of the gear casingby means of an upstanding arcuate portion 45, which is preferably curved on a radius' somewhat greater than the radius of the sprocket 40 solas to prevent interference with the rotation of the sprocket. In practice, the driving shaft 5 is rotated by an endless sprocket chain engaging the` sprocket 40. It is to prevent interference of the operation of that driving mechanism that the cam arm 2 visshaped as clearly indicated in Figures 1, 3 v'and 5 of the drawings. The upper end of thel cam arm is provided with a cam roller. 46 for Aengagement with a cam track (not shown) for accurately controlling the angles at which the picker stemsoperate in dilferent parts of their orbital movement.

Vhat is claimed is: v

1. A picker bar assembly com rising, in

combination, a substantially tubu ar unitary gear casing, a drivin' shaft extending through the casing and journaled therein at lthe ends of the-casing, picker stems project-- ing radially of the casing Y and journaled therein, gearing connectingeach picker stem with the driving shaft, a gear on the shaft outside of the casing for rotating the driving shaft., and a cam engaging arm integral with the casing and extending to a position eccentric to and above said gear.

2. In a cotton picker of the class described,

a picker bar assembly comprising, vin combi nation, a substantially tubular and unitary cast met-al gear casing, a driving shaft journaled within the casing, picker stems arranged in a vertlcal series one above another and journaled 1n the caslng, gearing connect-,

ing each picker stem with said driving shaft,

bridge journals removable through a wall of the casing and extending atintervals through the casing or forming bearings for the driving shaft and for 4aligning the same within the casing, means on the driving shaft aboifeA the casing for'rotating'the shaft, and an arm integral with the casing and having a cam enf gaging end eccentric to the driving shaft .1

3. In a cotton picker scribed, a picker bar assembly comprising, in combination, a substantially 'tubulargeall `casing,'.rotary picker stems arranged in ver-Y tical series and having their inner ends jourf naled within said gear casing, a driviifg shaft extending longitudinally of said casing and journaled' therein, a sprocket wheel for rotating said driving shaft, friction clutch mem-, bers keyed to said driving shaft, and a spring for normally' establishing driving connections between said clutch members and said sprocket wheel, the friction clutch members and spring allowing the sprocket wheel to r0- tate with respecttoithe.A driving shaft whenever unusual resistance is encounteredby the picker stems.

' 4. In a cotton pic-ker of the class described',

a picker bar assembly comprising, in combi-, nation, .a gear casing, a drlving shaft .rotatof the class deroe able within the'casing, rotary pickerstems. projecting from the caslng, a bearing fq r "each picker stem sup orted by the casing, a

driven gear havinga ey andgroove connec-- tion with each picker stem and solely supported bythe picker stem under normal op' erative. conditions, and a driving gear fog,`

-rotatively connecting each picker stem witlp the driving shaft, the driven gear being-operatively positioned bythe insertion of the picker stem Within the casing.

5. In a cotton picker of the class described,

y a picker bar assembly comprising, in combidriving shaft, driven gears removably receivingthe picker stems, a detachable bearing for the picker stems mounted in the casing, and projections Vof the casing having arcuate inner surfaces closely adjacent to the circumference of the driven gears soas to cooperate with the driving gears to hold the driven gears substantially in operative position when the picker stems are removed from the casing.

6. In a cotton picker of the class de'- scribed, a picker bar assembly comprising, in combination, a gear casing, a driving shaft rotatable Within the casing, and bridge journals extending transversely of the casing and forming bearings for the driving shaft, the casing being formed withpairs of opposed openings to receive said bridge journals which are removable through one of said openings, each bridge journal being formed with a head having extensions interlockingly engaging lugs upon one side of the casing.

7. In a cotton picker of the class described,

l a picker bar assembly comprising, in combi- 'nat1on, a gear casing, a driving shaft rotatable Within the casing, rotary picker stems projectmg from the casing and arranged to v be rotated by said driving shaft, spaced removable bushings for each picker stem, a

driven gear located between said spaced bushj ings yand keyed to the picker stem, and a Vdriving gear formed on the driving shaft for each 'picker stem, the driven gear being made in the form of a gear ring and having opposed 'radial'slots ,therein slidably.receiving a key secured to the'pickerstem.

in substantially operative position when the picker stem is removed from the casing' by .sliding it through the driven geaigfthe; driven gear being held by said formationanda driving gear against movement with the picker stem when the latter is removed from theA casing.

9. A cotton'picker'structure comprisinggin driven gear for slidably receiving the pin for v facilitating the non-rotative interlocking of the picker stems and the driven gear by the sliding of the picker stems through the gear, a pocket formed in the casing cooperating with each driving gear to hold the driven gear in substantially operative position when the picker stem is removed from the casing by sliding it through lthe driven gears, the driven gear being held by the Walls of the pocket and a driving gear against movement' with the picker stem when the latter is removed from the casing and being -held thereby in such position that a picker stem may be reinserted Without manual adjustment of the driven gear.

In testimony whereof We aiix tures.

EDWARD A. JOHNSTON. DAVID B. BAKER. CLARENCE R. HAGEN .A

our signa- 8. A cotton picker structure comprising, in

combination, a gear casing, a drive shaft extending` through the casing and journaled therein, drivingV gears located at spaced'posiv -tions on the drlving shaft andnonro'tatively Amounted thereon, means at one end of the' -V Y I shaft and outside of the casing for rotating the shaft, picker Steins carried bythe shaft and r'o'] ecting therefrom, a driven gear With- -fint e' csingfor each picker stem, keying f 'means' carried bythe picker stem and arv-'-"raged to-beslida'ble Within each driven gear,A

means .formed 'wjthin a bore' of `the driven 'gear for' slidably' receiving thekeying means for facilitating the non-rotative interlocking Evof the pieke'rwstems'and'the driven gear Abythe' sliding of thepicker'steins through the gear, and a foi-manon*on the' casing cooperating 'witli-each driving gear to hold the driven gear .v

een 

